Illuminated display device which continues illumination until end of operating mode

Abstract

A camera display device includes a display unit which is selectively illuminated during camera operation. The display unit displays information to the photographer such as photometry and rangefinding information. A mode selector switch selects a camera operating mode from a plurality of operating modes and a camera instruction unit outputs an illumination instruction to an illumination light to thereby illuminate the display unit. A timer determines a time period for illumination of the display unit while a control unit continues the illumination of the display unit during a predetermined continuation time period in response to the illumination instruction from the camera instruction unit. The control unit also continues the illumination of the display unit until an end of the camera operating mode selected by the mode selector switch. The operating mode selected by the mode selector switch includes a long exposure mode which continues an exposure longer than the predetermined time of the illumination continuation unit, a bulb exposure mode which continues an exposure for a predetermined period of time beginning from the receipt of a signal from a camera release member, and a time exposure mode which continues an exposure for a predetermined period of time beginning from the receipt of a signal from the camera release member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display device for an apparatus having a bulb and a selectable bulb exposure mode of operation with a beginning and an end, said display device comprising: a timer which operates to determine a first period of time;   a display unit which displays illuminated information related to the operation of the apparatus during the first period of time; and   an illumination extension unit which continues illumination of the display unit for a second period of time beyond the first period of time until the end of the bulb exposure mode of operation in response to selection of the bulb exposure mode of operation.   
     
     
       2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a camera and the display device has a long photographic exposure mode which continues the photographic exposure longer than the first period of time, and the illumination extension unit continues illumination of the display unit until the end of the long exposure mode. 
     
     
       3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a camera, said display device further comprising: a release member providing a signal in response to release thereof,   wherein the bulb exposure mode continues the bulb exposure for the second period of time beginning from receipt of the signal from the release member.   
     
     
       4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a camera and the display device has a time exposure mode for taking time exposure photography, said display device further comprising: a time release member providing a signal in response to release thereof,   wherein the time exposure mode continues an exposure for a predetermined period of time beginning from receipt of the signal from the time release member, and the illumination extension unit continues illumination of the display unit until the end of the time exposure mode.   
     
     
       5. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a mode selector switch which selects the bulb exposure mode of operation from a plurality of operating modes.   
     
     
       6. A display device for a camera having a selectable bulb exposure mode comprising: a display unit which displays camera operation information;   an illumination light illuminating said display unit;   an illumination switch responsive to an input from a photographer and outputting an illumination instruction in response thereto;   a timer which operates to determine a predetermined period of time in response to the illumination instruction; and   a control device responsive to the illumination instruction and illuminating said illumination light during the predetermined period of time, wherein said control device detects selection of the bulb exposure mode and continues illumination of the illumination light beyond the predetermined period of time until an end of the bulb exposure mode.   
     
     
       7. The camera display device according to claim 6, wherein the display device has a long exposure mode having a beginning and an end which continues an exposure longer than the predetermined period of time determined by the timer, and the control device continues illumination of the illumination light until the end of the long exposure mode. 
     
     
       8. The camera display device according to claim 6, said camera having a bulb release member providing a signal in response to release thereof, wherein the bulb exposure mode continues an exposure beginning from receipt of the signal from the release member and ending after a second predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       9. The camera display device according to claim 6, said camera having a time release member providing a signal in response to release thereof, wherein said display device has a time exposure mode which continues an exposure beginning from receipt of the signal from the time release member and ending after a second predetermined period of time, and the control device continues illumination of the illumination light until the end of the time exposure mode. 
     
     
       10. A camera display device for a camera comprising: a mode selector switch which selects a bulb exposure mode having a beginning and an end from a plurality of operating modes;   an instruction unit which outputs an illumination instruction;   a display unit which displays information related to the operation of the camera;   an illumination light which illuminates the display unit;   a timer which determines a predetermined time period for illumination of the illumination light;   a control device which continues illumination of the illumination light during the predetermined time period in response to the illumination instruction from the instruction unit and continues illumination of the illumination light until the end of the bulb exposure mode selected by the mode selector switch.   
     
     
       11. The camera display device according to claim 10 wherein the mode selector switch selects a long exposure mode which continues an exposure longer than said predetermined time period for illumination by said illumination light, and the control device continues illumination of the illumination light until the end of the long exposure mode. 
     
     
       12. The camera display device according to claim 10, said camera having a bulb release member providing a signal in response to release thereof, wherein the bulb exposure mode continues an exposure for a predetermined period of time beginning from receipt of the signal from the release member. 
     
     
       13. The camera display device according to claim 10, said camera having a time release member providing a signal in response to release thereof, wherein the mode selector switch selects a time exposure mode which continues an exposure for a predetermined period of time beginning from receipt of the signal from the time release member and the control device continues illumination of the illumination light until the end of the time exposure mode. 
     
     
       14. The camera display device according to claim 10 further comprising: a photometric device which determines the luminosity of a subject to be photographed and outputs a signal corresponding thereto;   a rangefinding device which detects the distance from the camera to a subject to be photographed and outputs a signal corresponding thereto; and   a half depression switch which outputs a signal to initiate performance of photometry and rangefinding;   wherein the control device initiates operation and outputs a display signal to the display unit in response to the output signal from the half depression switch.   
     
     
       15. The camera display device according to claim 10, wherein said camera includes a camera lens barrel having a focus position, said display device further comprising: an exposure control device which controls the amount of camera exposure; and   a photographic lens drive device which adjusts the focus position of the camera lens barrel;   wherein the control device outputs information received from the exposure control device and the photographic lens drive device to the display unit.   
     
     
       16. The camera display device according to claim 10, wherein said camera has a camera shutter and said display unit includes a shutter pointer which indicates the time period that has elapsed since the camera shutter has opened until the camera shutter is closed. 
     
     
       17. A display device for a camera having a bulb for providing bulb exposure and having a mode of operation with a beginning and an end, said display device comprising: a display unit which displays illuminated information related to camera operation for a predetermined period of time;   an illumination extension unit which selectively continues illumination of the display unit beyond the predetermined period of time until the end of the mode of operation; and   a release member providing a signal in response to release thereof;   wherein the mode of operation is a bulb exposure mode which continues the bulb exposure for a predetermined period of time beginning from receipt of the signal from the release member, and the illumination extension unit continues illumination of the display until the end of the bulb exposure mode.   
     
     
       18. A display device for a camera providing time exposure photography and having a mode of operation with a beginning and an end, said display device comprising: a display unit which displays illuminated information related to camera operation for a predetermined period of time;   an illumination extension unit which selectively continues illumination of the display unit beyond the predetermined period of time until the end of the mode of operation; and   a time release member providing a signal in response to release thereof;   wherein the mode of operation is a time exposure mode which continues an exposure for a predetermined period of time beginning from receipt of the signal from the time release member, and the illumination extension unit continues illumination of the display unit until the end of the time exposure mode.   
     
     
       19. A display device for a camera having an operating mode and a bulb release member providing a signal in response to release thereof, comprising: a display unit which displays camera operation information;   an illumination light illuminating the display unit;   an illumination switch responsive to an input from a photographer and outputting an illumination instruction in response thereto; and   a control device responsive to the illumination instruction and illuminating said illumination light for a predetermined period of time in response thereto, and which detects the continued operation of the camera operating mode to continue illumination of the illumination light beyond the predetermined period of time until an end of the operating mode;   wherein the operating mode is a bulb exposure mode which continues an exposure beginning from receipt of the signal from the release member and ending after a predetermined period of time, and the control device continues illumination of the illumination light until the end of the bulb exposure mode.   
     
     
       20. A camera display device for a camera comprising: a mode selector switch which selects a camera operating mode having a beginning and an end from a plurality of operating modes;   an instruction unit which outputs an illumination instruction;   a display unit which displays information related to the operation of the camera;   an illumination light which illuminates the display unit;   a timer which determines a predetermined time period for illumination of the illumination light; and   a control device which continues illumination of the illumination light during the predetermined time period in response to the illumination instruction from the instruction unit and continues illumination of the illumination light until the end of the camera operating mode selected by the mode selector switch;   wherein the operating mode selected by the mode selector switch is a long exposure mode which continues an exposure longer than said predetermined time period for illumination by said illumination light, and the control device continues illumination of the illumination light until the end of the long exposure mode.   
     
     
       21. A camera display device for a camera comprising: a mode selector switch which selects a camera operating mode having a beginning and an end from a plurality of operating modes;   an instruction unit which outputs an illumination instruction;   a display unit which displays information related to the operation of the camera;   an illumination light which illuminates the display unit;   a timer which determines a predetermined time period for illumination of the illumination light;   a control device which continues illumination of the illumination light during the predetermined time period in response to the illumination instruction from the instruction unit and continues illumination of the illumination light until the end of the camera operating mode selected by the mode selector switch; and   a bulb release member providing a signal in response to release thereof, wherein the operating mode selected by the mode selector switch is a bulb exposure mode which continues an exposure for a predetermined period of time beginning from receipt of the signal from the release member, and the control device continues illumination of the illumination light until the end of the bulb exposure mode.